Tube flanging tool



Dec. 4, 1934. A. J. SCHOLTES 7 1,983,407

TUBE FLANGING TOOL F led June 2 93 2 Sheets-Sheet l 24 .fIZberZJScIwH/ e-S,

Patented Dec. 4, 1934 TUBE FLANGING TOOL Albert J. Scholtes, Baltimore, Md.

Application June 20,1934, Serial No. 731,505

10 Claims.

The present invention relates to an improved tool for flanging tubes, and has for'an object to embody in a single tool structure a device for cupping, flanging'and trimming tubes.

The invention has for'another object to provide a tool of this character which may be mounted in a lathe, screw machine or other suitable machine adaptable for the purpose and which is adapted to form or spin a flange on the end of the tube with the flange of at least the thickness of the wall of the tube, and wherein by slight variations in the forming die or rollers of the tool the flange may be given desired angular and curved or rounded'configurations as desired.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a tube flanging tool which during the formation of the flange exerts the flanging bending pressure axially back relative to the tube so as to prevent weakening of the material at the {bend or angle between the tube body and the flange and to thus substantially compress the material of the flange backwardly toward the tube for reinforcing the juncture between the flange and the tube and maintaining the flange at substantially the thickness of the tube wall.

Another object of the invention is to provide a flange tool of'this type which has a pilot orv centering device forthe end of the tube and from which the initial cupping or flaring portion of .the die emerges so that during the spinning action the end of the tube is gradually flared or cupped to the desired configuration and angle during the initial operation of the tool. The invention also provides in this tool flanging or forming rollers adapted to spin the end of the tube so as tocomplete the spinning or flanging operation at an angle or in a configurationoth erwise than that of the initial cupping or bending portion of the die. 1

The invention also aims to provide a tool with cupping and flanging portions which are adjust able and interchangeable for operation on tubes of different diameters within the range of the tool and to effect desired formations in the desired combinations.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention will be more fully described hereinafter, and will be-more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

In the drawings, wherein like symbols refer to like or corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a tube flange tool constructed according to the present invention, a portion of a tube being shown in position about to be placed over the pilot.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the same showing in section the tube engaging over the pilot and with its end flared over the initial forming shoulders or portions of the die for the purpose of cupping or flaring the end of the tube, the cutter also shown in position and engaging the outer edge of the flange.

Figure 3 is an outer end view of the die, looking toward the pilot over which the tube is fitted.

Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal section taken through the tool, substantially on the line 44 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a horizontal section taken through the tool on the line 5--5 of Figure 1 and showing the tube having a right angle flange formed thereon, the dotted lines showing the tube advanced against the forming rollers.

Figure 6 is an enlarged vertical section taken. transversely through the outer end portion of the tool on the line 66 of Figure 1, showing the ad-' justable mounting of the flange rollers.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary top plan view of the outer end of the tool, showing a slight modification .in the forming or spinning device to provide a frusto-conical flange on the outer end of the tube, and

Figure 8 is a fragmentary side elevation of the outer-end of' the tool showing in section a tube having a partially rolled over fiangeand advanced against a modified form of flanging roller.

' Referring now to the drawings, the tool is shown without reference to any particular machine in which it may be mounted as the body or frame 15 of the tool has a shank 16 of suitable configuration, diameter and length as to fit in a lathe, a screw machine or any other type of 'mechanism which may be used for efiecting the desired relative turning or spinning between the tool and a tube 17 adapted to be cupped, flanged and trimmed, any one or more of the operations being carried out as desired by the use of the tube.

The frame 15 is provided in its outer end with an intermediate transverse recess 18, with refer-- ence to the tool frame 15 in vertical position, as shown in Figure 1. The recess l8'provides upper and lower bracket arms 19 which are internally threaded and receive therein the shanks 20 of bearing spindles 21 which project into the upper and lower portions of the recess 18 toward each other and are held in the brackets 19 in axial alinement. The openings in the brackets 19 extend through the outer'faces of the brackets and the outer ends, of the shanks 2 0 have kerfs 22 therein for receiving a suitable tool for turning the shanks 20 and adjusting the same toward and from each other.

A suitable set screw 23 is provided in each bracket 19 for engaging the adjacent shank 20 to hold the same firmly in adjusted position. As shown particularly in Figure 6, each spindle 21 has mounted thereon a spinning or forming roller 24 and the'rollers may have anti-friction bearings 25 therein for freely supporting the rollers 24 for rotation on their spindles 21 under the frictional contact of the tube 17 with the rollers, when the tube is advanced toward the rollers, as shown in Figure 5. It will be observed that the threaded shanks 20 are of such length relatively tothe height of the recess 18 as to admit of the relatively easy removal or interchange of the rollers 24 in the frame, so that rollers ofdifferent-size's and configurations may be substituted in the tool;

The tool is provided with a forming die 26 which is disposed. lengthwise axially or the frame 15 and when in position lies betweenthe' formingrollers" 243; The die 26 is provided with upper and lower fiat faces 27 provided for the purpose of permittingtherollers' 24'to' lie closely together and spaced apart at their inner opposite faces a distance whith is less than the width or diameter of the forming die 26 crosswise.

This is for the purpose of permitting the rollers 24 to engage the initial out-turned or cupped end of the tube 1'7, as shown in Figures 2 and 5, so that the rollers 24 may act upon the flared end of the tube to produce the flange.

These flat faces 2'? of the forming die make a die whieh is equal inthickness'substantially to the diameter of the pilot 29 or the interior of the tube upon which the operations are carried out. This allows-thero'll-ers 24 to" engage the adjacent end or edge portion of the tube 17 as the latter is advanced against the rollers with the result that after cupping the rollers during hanging exert a thrust substantially edgewise toward the end of the tube and thereby obtain a flange which is at least as thick as thewall of the tube itself.

The forming die 26 is provided with forming shoulders or faces 28 at opposite sides and these shoulders or faces may be of any desired curvature, or may be fiat or given any other suitable configuration provided that the faces 28 diverge from the inner end of the pilot 29 or reduced end of the tool. These faces 28 are of a height, however, equal only to that of the thickness of the forming die 26 so that upon relative movement between the die'26 and the rollers 24, the rollers may advance toward the pilot 29 and thus engage to thedesired extent the inner end of the tube 17 after it has been initially flared or cupped by these narrow diverging forming shoulders 28. As shown in Figure 1, the forming die 26 terminates in spaced relation to the bottom or inner wall of the recess 18. The forming die 26 is supported upon the outer end of a shank 29 which is slidably fitted in an axial opening or guideway formed in the frame 15, as shown in Figure 5, and the shank 29' has in one side a recess 30 for receiving the inner end or a stop screw 31 threaded through the side of the frame 151a'nd engaging in the reclass 30. The stop screw 31 abuts the shoulders at opposite ends or the recess 30 to admit of the liihited axial movement or the forming die 26. A spring 32 is mounted in the tool shank 16 and isheld in desired compressed position by means of a set screw 33 which is accessible to the inner ehd of the shank 16, as shown in Figure 4.

The die shank 29' has a lengthwiseextending but offset plunger 34 arranged in line with the spring 32 and receiving the spring thereagainst for normally urging the forming die 26 outwardly in the frame, as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4, the set screw 31 determining the outward or projecting position of the forming die. The die 26 may be locked in its outward position by means of a bolt 35 which is mounted for rotation through the upperside. of the frame 15' and-which may; comprise a cylindrical member with an annular groove 36 intermediate its ends for the reception of the extremity of a locking screw or pin 37 mounted in the side of the frame 15. The bolt 35 may be turned by a handle 38 conveniently dispdse'd at the top or the frame 15 as shown, and clips 39 or the like may also be mounted on top of the frame to engage and yieldingly hold the handle 38 in it'sbpposite positions for locking or releasing the slidable forming die 26. It will be noted from Figure 4 that the lower end of the bolt 35 has a recess or cut away portion in one side and atits lower end as shown at 40, the recess being or sufficient depth'to free the bolt 35" from the inner end of the die shank 29' when thebolt: 35' is turned'through substantially 180 or from the pesition shown it! Figure 4130 that shown in dotted lines Figure l.- The recess 40 is dis-"- posed upon the side of the bolt 35 remote to the side from which the handle 38 projects to' serve as anindica-tion ofth'e locking orreleasing po'Sitions of the bolt. Of course any other desired arrangernent or relationn'iay be had.

It is desirable to effect the trimming of the" outer edge of the tube flange as the same is formed so that the cupping, hanging and trimming operations may be carried on merely by the c'ontinuous or consecutive operations'of the.

tool. For this purpose, the tools provided at one side with a supporting ar'rn 41 whi'ch may'be':

providedat its inner end with aslot 42 for receiving the shanks of clamping bolts 43 the-fethrough,

the heads of the bolts engaging the outer side of the arm 41 and theinrie'r endsof the'bolts engaging in threaded relation in the adjacent side of the frame 15. The arm 41 may thus be adjusted lengthwise-211m the side Of the-frame", arm

the arm is supported substantially in horizontal aliner'nent with the forming die 26, Near its outer end, arm 41 is provided with a trans Verse recess or' opening 44 in which is placed a cutter 45 having the cutting edge or point thereforming die 26 and held'adjustably in such'posi-- tion by a set screw 46 which may be threaded through the outer end portion of the arm 41-.

Thus, the cutter 45 maybe adjusted to suit the finished diameter of the flange of the tube so that as the flange is flared or spun outwardly, the outer edge of the flange will be gradually brought into contact with the point or edge of the cutter 45 so that the trimming of the outer edge of the flange takes place automatically during the'coi'npletion of the flange formation.

Of Course, the cutter or trimmer 4'5 may be readily removed or retracted from the aoneof the of directed inwardly toward the oute'refid of the forming die- 26 may have at its outer thisformation of the tube flangemay be followed up by retracting the forming die 26 sumciently.

.- in Figure 8. It will, of course, be appreciated that ing forming shoulders 28.

A forming die 26 must be provided for each interior diameter size of the tube 17 as the pilot 29, shoulders 28 and thickness of the die body are proportioned for each individual interior diameter size of tube.

What is claimed is:

1. A tube flanging tool, comprising a retractable die for engaging and initially flaring the end of a tube, and stationary forming rollers at opposite sides of the die adapted to aline with the end of the tube and spaced apart a distance equal substantially to the interior diameter of the tube to be operated upon.

2. A tube flanging tool, comprising a die for engaging the end of a tube, a forming roller, means for supporting the die and roller for independent relative movements toward the end of the tube and with the roller in line with the interior surface of the tube whereby upon advance of the tube and retraction of the die said roller may engage the tube with a thrust endwise of the wall of the tube.

3. A tube flanging tool, comprising a retractable die for engaging and initially flaring the end of a tube, and stationary forming rollers at opposite sides of the die, said die having a reduced width between the rollers and the rollers being adjustable apart a distance equal substantially to the interior diameter of the tube to be operated upon to exert an endwise thrust on the tube in line with the wall of the tube when the die is retracted.

4. A tube flanging tool, comprising a retractable die for engaging and initially flaring the end of a tube, and stationary forming rollers at opposite sides of the die, said die having a reduced width between the rollers and the rollers being apart a distance equal substantially to the interior diameter of the tube to be operated upon to exert an endwise thrust on the tube in line with the wall of the tube when the die is retracted.

5. A tube flanging tool, comprising a forming die having a pilot and forming shoulders diverging from the pilot for engaging the end of a tube,

said die having flat opposite faces leaving the thickness of the die between the faces not greater than the inter' or diameter of the tube to be operated upon, a pair of forming rollers, means for supporting the die and rollers for independent relative movements with respect to the tube and with the rollers adjacent said flat faces of the die for alinement with the inner wall of the tube.

6. A tool for operating on the end of a tube, comprising a forming die for engaging and flaring the end of a tube, a pair of rollers at opposite sides of the die for engaging-the flared end portion of the tube for flanging the latter, and a trimmer cutter. adjustably supported at one side of the die and rollers and independently thereof for trimming the flange during the final forming stages of the operation.

7. A tool for operating on the end of a tube, comprising a retractable die having a pilot for engaging in the end of a tube and having diverging forming faces leading from the pilot for flaring the tube end as the tube is advanced over the pilot, and a pair of stationary forming rollers at opposite sides of the die for engaging and forming the flared end of the tube as the tube with the pilot therein is moved toward the rollers and with a thrust through the flared portion of the tube resisted by the pilot.

8. A tool for operating on the end of a tube, comprising a frame, a forming die mounted for longitudinal movement in the frame and having a pilot on its outer end to engage into the end of a tube and provided with backwardly flaring forming shoulders leading from the pilot for flaring the end of the tube as the latter is advanced over the pilot, means in the frame for yieldingly holding the forming die in a projecting position, said die having opposed flat faces reducing the width of the die, a pair of forming rollers disposed in said frame adjacent said flat faces, means for adjustably holding the rollers in said frame for movement toward and from said flat faces to aline the rollers with the inner wall of the tube operated upon, and means for releasably locking the forming die in projected position.

9. A tool for operating on the end of a tube comprising a frame, a longitudinally movable forming die mounted in the frame, means for holding said die for limited movement in the frame, spring means in said frame engaging the die for normally projecting the same in the outward position, said die having a pilot on its outer end to engage within a tube and having backwardly flaring forming shoulders leading from the pilot and provided with opposite flat faces reducing the width of the die between the faces to substantially equal the interior diameter of the tube to be operated on, said forming die having combined cooling anti-friction and oiling grooves extending lengthwise therein through the pilot and forming shoulders, said frame having a recess therein exposing the opposite flat sides of the die, spindles adjustably and removably mounted in said frame and projecting into the opposite sides of the recess, rollers mounted on said spindles for adjustment toward and from the opposite flat faces of the die, and releasable locking means in the frame for said die to at times maintain the same in projected position, said die when released from the locking means adapted to be retracted by advance of said tube toward the rollers whereby said rollers engage the flared end of the tube and exert a thrust thereon resisted by said pilot for forming the flared end of the tube.

10. A tool for operating on the end of a tube comprising a frame,a longitudinally shiftable forming die mounted in the frame and biased to a projected position, said die having a pilot for entering the end of a tube and forming shoulders adjacent the pilot for flaringthe end. of. the tube as the latter advances over the pilot, means for releasably locking the forming die in projected operated. upon an arm adjustably. mounted. atone side. of the frame substantially in line with the forming" die, and avtrimmer cutter mounted. ad-- justably in said arm for adjustment toward and from the axis of said die for trimming the formed end of the tube. while turning on said; pilot of the forming die.

' ALBERT J. SCI-IOLTES. 

